These national health programmes notes give CHO, ANM, staff nurse and AIIMS NORCET aspirants an updated, exam-ready summary of India’s health programmes, with the current names, regimens and targets. Several programmes have been renamed in recent years (NTEP, NCVBDC, NP-NCD, Ayushman Arogya Mandir), and examiners love testing exactly those changes.
The notes also cover the basics of communicable and non-communicable disease epidemiology that sit alongside programme questions. For the wider subject, see our community health nursing notes.
National health programmes notes: why they matter
In CHO and ANM recruitment papers, health programmes are one of the largest single blocks of questions because these workers deliver the programmes in the field. In NORCET and staff nurse exams the topic appears through community health nursing, usually as direct recall (launch year, drug regimen, target, important day). Programme details change, so always revise from an updated source.
National Health Mission (NHM): structure
- National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched on 12 April 2005. National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was approved in 2013, and both now form the National Health Mission.
- Structure: at the national level, a Mission Steering Group and Empowered Programme Committee; at the state level, the State Health Mission and State Health Society; at the district level, the District Health Society; at the village level, the Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC).
- ASHA: one per 1000 population in rural areas (relaxed to one per habitation in tribal, hilly and desert areas). ASHAs are women from the same village, ideally aged 25 to 45, and are paid performance-based incentives.
- Rogi Kalyan Samiti (patient welfare committee) manages hospital-level funds; untied funds support sub-centres and PHCs.
RMNCH+A and maternal-child schemes
RMNCH+A (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health) was launched in 2013 to link care across the life cycle.
| Scheme | Year | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) | 2005 | Cash assistance for institutional delivery |
| Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) | 2011 | Free delivery, C-section, drugs, diet, diagnostics and transport; sick newborn care up to 1 year |
| Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) | 2013 | Screening children 0 to 18 years for the 4 Ds: defects at birth, diseases, deficiencies, developmental delays |
| Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) | 2014 | Adolescents 10 to 19 years |
| Mission Indradhanush | 2014 | Full immunisation coverage drive |
| Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) | 2016 | Free antenatal check-up by a specialist on the 9th of every month |
| LaQshya | 2017 | Quality improvement in labour rooms and maternity OTs |
| SUMAN | 2019 | Assured, respectful, zero-expense maternal and newborn care |
Detailed obstetric and immunisation points are in our obstetrics and gynaecology nursing notes and pediatric nursing notes.
Communicable disease programmes
National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP)
- RNTCP was renamed NTEP from January 2020. India’s National Strategic Plan aimed to end TB ahead of the global SDG target of 2030.
- Diagnosis: rapid molecular tests (NAAT: CBNAAT or Truenat) are preferred upfront, with microscopy where NAAT is unavailable.
- Drug-sensitive TB regimen: intensive phase of 2 months with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (2HRZE), followed by a continuation phase of 4 months with isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol (4HRE). Drugs are given daily as weight-band fixed-dose combinations.
- Drug-resistant TB: in 2024 the Health Ministry approved the 6-month BPaLM regimen (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, moxifloxacin) for MDR/RR-TB.
- Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: nutritional support by direct benefit transfer, raised to Rs 1000 per month during treatment in 2024. Ni-kshay is the online case notification portal.
- World TB Day is 24 March.
Vector-borne diseases (NCVBDC)
The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is now run by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). It covers six diseases: malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis.
| Disease | Key programme points |
|---|---|
| Malaria | P. vivax: chloroquine for 3 days plus primaquine 0.25 mg/kg daily for 14 days. P. falciparum: artemisinin combination therapy (artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; artemether-lumefantrine in the north-eastern states) plus single-dose primaquine. Primaquine is not given in pregnancy, to infants under 1 year or in G6PD deficiency. National Framework targets malaria elimination by 2030 |
| Dengue | Aedes aegypti, a day-biting mosquito breeding in clean stored water; NS1 antigen test early; paracetamol only, avoid aspirin and NSAIDs. National Dengue Day 16 May |
| Lymphatic filariasis | Culex quinquefasciatus; mass drug administration with DEC plus albendazole, or triple drug IDA (ivermectin, DEC, albendazole) in selected districts |
| Kala-azar | Sandfly (Phlebotomus argentipes); single-dose liposomal amphotericin B is the preferred treatment |
| Japanese encephalitis | Culex tritaeniorhynchus; pigs are amplifier hosts; JE vaccine in endemic districts under UIP |
National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)
- Multidrug therapy (MDT) uses rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone.
- From 1 April 2025, as per a Health Ministry directive, paucibacillary (PB) cases also receive the three-drug regimen (earlier two drugs), for 6 months; multibacillary (MB) cases are treated for 12 months.
- Single-dose rifampicin is used as post-exposure prophylaxis for contacts. Anti-Leprosy Day is 30 January.
National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)
- Started in 1992; Phase V runs from 2021 to 2026, aligned with the 95-95-95 targets.
- Testing at ICTCs; antiretroviral therapy for everyone diagnosed (“Treat All”), with dolutegravir-based first-line regimens.
- The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017 protects people living with HIV against discrimination. World AIDS Day is 1 December.
IDSP, polio and measles-rubella
- IDSP (2004) reports on three formats: S (syndromic, by health workers), P (presumptive, by doctors) and L (laboratory confirmed). Reporting now runs on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
- Polio: Pulse Polio began in 1995. India’s last wild poliovirus case was reported on 13 January 2011 from Howrah, West Bengal, and the WHO South-East Asia Region was certified polio-free on 27 March 2014.
- Measles-rubella: MR vaccine is given at 9 to 12 months and 16 to 24 months with vitamin A. India has set a goal of measles and rubella elimination by 2026.
Non-communicable disease programmes
- NP-NCD: the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS, 2010) was renamed the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) in 2023.
- Population-based screening of people aged 30 years and above for hypertension, diabetes and three common cancers (oral, breast, cervical) is done at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
- Other NCD programmes: National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI; started 1976, cataract is the leading cause), National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD), National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis, and NIDDCP for iodine.
- Mental health: National Mental Health Programme (1982), District Mental Health Programme, and Tele-MANAS (helpline 14416) launched in 2022.
- Tobacco control: National Tobacco Control Programme (2007-08) implements COTPA 2003, which bans smoking in public places and sale to minors and near educational institutions. World No Tobacco Day is 31 May.
Ayushman Bharat
| Pillar | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Ayushman Arogya Mandir (formerly Health and Wellness Centres) | Upgraded sub-centres and PHCs giving comprehensive primary health care with an expanded range of service packages. The first HWC opened in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, in April 2018. Renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandir in 2023. Sub-centre level AAMs are led by a Community Health Officer |
| PM-JAY | Launched in September 2018. Cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, cashless and portable. Since 2024 all senior citizens aged 70 and above are eligible irrespective of income, through the Ayushman Vay Vandana card |
If you are preparing for a CHO post, read this with the CHO exam pattern and syllabus and the CHO preparation strategy.
Communicable disease basics
Chain of infection
Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry and susceptible host. Breaking any link prevents spread; hand hygiene breaks the transmission link and is the single most effective measure in hospitals. Microbial details are in our microbiology nursing notes.
Incubation periods (usual, as taught in Park)
| Disease | Usual incubation period |
|---|---|
| Cholera | A few hours to 5 days (usually 1 to 2 days) |
| Influenza | 18 to 72 hours |
| Diphtheria | 2 to 6 days |
| Typhoid | 10 to 14 days |
| Measles | About 10 days to fever, 14 days to rash |
| Chickenpox | 14 to 16 days |
| Mumps | 14 to 18 days |
| Rubella | 14 to 21 days |
| Polio | 7 to 14 days |
| Tetanus | 6 to 10 days |
| Hepatitis A | 15 to 45 days (about 25 to 30) |
| Hepatitis B | 30 to 180 days (usually 60 to 90) |
| Rabies | Usually 1 to 3 months; shorter for bites on face and head |
| Leprosy | 3 to 5 years on average |
Levels of prevention (Leavell and Clark)
- Primordial: preventing risk factors from emerging (healthy lifestyle in children).
- Primary: health promotion and specific protection (immunisation, iodised salt).
- Secondary: early diagnosis and prompt treatment (screening, Pap smear).
- Tertiary: disability limitation and rehabilitation.
Non-communicable disease risk factors
- Behavioural (modifiable): tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, unhealthy diet (high salt, sugar, trans fat), physical inactivity.
- Metabolic: raised blood pressure, overweight and obesity, raised blood glucose, raised lipids.
- Non-modifiable: age, sex, genetics, family history.
- Diet-related risk and Asian BMI cut-offs are covered in our nutrition notes for nursing.
Important health days
| Date | Day |
|---|---|
| 30 January | Anti-Leprosy Day |
| 4 February | World Cancer Day |
| 10 February and 10 August | National Deworming Day |
| 24 March | World TB Day |
| 7 April | World Health Day |
| 25 April | World Malaria Day |
| 12 May | International Nurses Day |
| 16 May | National Dengue Day |
| 31 May | World No Tobacco Day |
| 11 July | World Population Day |
| 28 July | World Hepatitis Day |
| 1 to 7 August | World Breastfeeding Week |
| 10 October | World Mental Health Day |
| 14 November | World Diabetes Day |
| 1 December | World AIDS Day |
Quick revision points
- NRHM was launched on 12 April 2005.
- One ASHA per 1000 rural population.
- RNTCP became NTEP in 2020.
- Drug-sensitive TB: 2HRZE plus 4HRE, daily.
- BPaLM is a 6-month regimen for MDR/RR-TB.
- Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana support is Rs 1000 per month.
- NCVBDC covers six vector-borne diseases.
- Primaquine for vivax malaria is given for 14 days.
- From April 2025, PB leprosy is treated with three drugs for 6 months.
- NACP Phase V runs from 2021 to 2026.
- IDSP uses S, P and L forms.
- India’s last wild polio case: 13 January 2011, Howrah.
- NPCDCS was renamed NP-NCD in 2023.
- Health and Wellness Centres are now Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
- PM-JAY gives Rs 5 lakh per family per year; all citizens 70+ are covered.
- Tele-MANAS helpline is 14416.
- Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in India.
- COTPA was enacted in 2003.
Practise programme MCQs in the CHO test series and the ANM test series.
Frequently asked questions
Which national health programmes are most important for the CHO exam?
NTEP, NCVBDC (especially malaria), RMNCH+A schemes, immunisation, NP-NCD screening, Ayushman Bharat and nutrition programmes are asked most often because CHOs deliver them at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
What is the current TB treatment regimen in India?
For drug-sensitive TB, NTEP uses 2 months of HRZE followed by 4 months of HRE, given daily in weight-band fixed-dose combinations. The 6-month BPaLM regimen was approved for MDR/RR-TB in 2024.
Is NVBDCP still the correct name?
The programme is now run by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). Many books still use NVBDCP, so recognise both names in options.
Why do programme names keep changing in questions?
Programmes are periodically renamed or restructured, and examiners test the latest names. Revise from updated notes like these and cross-check new changes on the official Health Ministry website before your exam.
How should I revise health programmes quickly?
Make a one-page table of programme, launch year, target and key regimen, and revise important days separately. Free summaries are available on our free PDF notes page.
Prepare with Concept RNA
Stay updated on every programme change and practise the community health questions that decide CHO and ANM selection.